WO2010064961A1

WO2010064961A1 - Dispensing arrangement for a centre-fed roll of web material

Info

Publication number: WO2010064961A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/000677
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Glatzl
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 2008-12-01
Filing date: 2008-12-01
Publication date: 2010-06-10

Abstract

A dispensing arrangement for a roll (10) of web material (11 ) in the form of tissue paper or nonwoven material adapted to be unwound from the centre of the roll, the roll being accommodated in an elongated casing (12) having a dispensing opening (15) an end wall of the casing, said dispensing opening having a length (L1) and a width (W1) or alternatively a diameter (W1). The dispensing arrangement comprises a support plate (18; 31 ) for supporting said elongated casing (12) in an upright position with the dispensing opening facing the support plate, said support plate having an opening (20; 34) with a length (L2) and a width (W2) or alternatively a diameter (W2), wherein the width or diameter (W2) of said opening is equal to or smaller than the width or diameter (W1) of the dispensing opening (15) of the casing (12). The dispensing arrangement further comprises an outlet member (24; 35) having a dispensing opening (25; 36) provided with tearing means (26; 37).

Description

DISPENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR A CENTRE-FED ROLL OF WEB MATERIAL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a dispensing arrangement for a roll of web material in the form of tissue paper or nonwoven material intended for wiping purposes, wherein the web material is extracted from the centre of the roll. The dispenser comprises an elongated casing for accommodating the roll, said housing having an end wall at each end and a dispenser opening is arranged in at least one end wall of the dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dispensers of this kind are frequently used in private households and in different kinds of public premises such as toilets, restaurants, hospitals, industries etc. The dispenser may be mounted on a wall or other support in a vertical or horizontal position with the dispenser opening in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the enclosed roll. It may also be portable to be carried along. Both for stationary and portable dispensers the paper web is extracted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the roll and is torn against the tearing means, such as a toothed edge, of the dispenser opening. Dispensing the paper from the centre of the roll has several advantages as compared to unwinding the paper from the periphery of the roll, since the roll can remain stationary in the dispenser and the only thing that needs to be displaced is the pulled out length of paper web.

WO 81/02880 discloses a stationary dispenser for centre-fed paper rolls, where the web is extracted at the upper end of the dispenser. The web path is first straight upwards and is then drawn around an edge portion to exit the dispenser through a dispenser opening located at the side of the dispenser. The dispenser opening has tearing means for tearing off desired lengths of the paper web.

SE-C-519 199 discloses a single use portable dispenser for a centre-fed paper roll. The dispenser comprises a casing, for example a plastic film, enclosing the roll and provided with a dispenser opening in one end wall. The dispenser opening has a substantially round or square configuration and comprises tearing means. WO 2008/085090 discloses a portable dispenser for a centre-fed paper roll comprising a casing made of a moisture and tear resistant flexible material adapted for multiple uses. The casing has a reclosable opening through which the roll of web material can be inserted into the dispenser, said opening being provided with refastenable adhesive or mechanical closure means. A dispenser opening with tearing means is provided in one end wall of the casing.

There is however still a need for functional and flexible dispensing arrangements for centre-feed rolls of web material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to suggest a solution to the above problem and according to the invention the centre-feed roll of web material is accommodated in an elongated casing, said casing having an end wall at each end covering the respective end surface of the roll, wherein a dispensing opening is arranged in at least one end wall of the casing, said dispensing opening having a length, L1 , and a width, W1. The dispensing arrangement according to the invention comprises a support plate for supporting said elongated casing in an upright position with the dispensing opening facing the support plate, said support plate having an opening there through, said opening having an inlet and an outlet and a length, L2, and a width, W2, wherein the width, W2, of the opening in the support plate is equal to or smaller than the width, W1 , of the dispensing opening of the casing. The dispensing arrangement further comprises an outlet member having a dispensing opening provided with tearing means, said dispensing opening of the outlet member being aligned with the opening of the support plate, so as to allow the web material to be withdrawn through the dispensing opening of the casing, through the opening in the support plate and further through the dispensing opening in the outlet member in a feeding direction of the web material.

In one embodiment the tearing means of the dispensing opening of the outlet member is provided with tear edges on the inner side of the outlet member facing the support plate.

In a further embodiment the dispensing opening of the outlet member has a length, L3, and a width, W3, or alternatively having a diameter, W3, wherein the width or diameter, W3, of the dispensing opening is larger than the width or diameter, W2, of the opening of the support plate which is larger than the width or diameter, W2, of the opening in the support plate.

In a still further embodiment the opening of the support plate tapers towards to outlet end of the opening, wherein the width or diameter, W2, of the opening is measured at the narrowest part thereof.

In one embodiment the opening in the support plate is circular.

In one aspect of the invention the support plate and the outlet member are spaced apart in said feeding direction so that the distance between the outlet end of the opening in the support plate and the tearing means of the outlet member is between 10 and 60 mm.

In a further aspect the support plate and the outlet member are separate parts that are connectible to each other at a variable spaced apart distance.

In a still further aspect the support plate and the outlet member are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of a shelf having an opening there through aligned with the openings in the support plate and the outlet member.

In one embodiment the support plate and the outlet member are part of an integrated unit further comprising a mounting plate for mounting the dispensing arrangement to a wall.

In a further embodiment said casing is portable and removable as a separate unit from the support plate.

In a still further embodiment the dispensing opening in the at least one end wall of the casing is provided with tearing means located in the same plane as the respective end wall, with the tips of the tearing means being directed towards the centre of the dispenser opening.

In one aspect of the invention the dispensing opening of the casing has an elongated shape with a length, L1 , between 40 and 90%, preferably between 50 and 80% of the roll diameter and a width, W1 , between 8 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 10 and 30 mm. In a further aspect the opening in the support plate has a diameter or width, W2, of between 5 and 40 mm, preferably between 10 and 30 mm.

In a still further aspect said diameter or width, W2, is at least 1 mm smaller than the width or the diameter, W1 , of the dispensing opening of the casing.

In a still further aspect the dispensing opening in the outlet member has a diameter or width, W3, of between 30 and 100 mm, preferably between 40 and 80 mm, wherein said diameter or width, W3, is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 20 mm larger than the width or diameter, W2, of the opening in the support plate.

Further features of the dispenser according to the invention are found in the following description and in the drawings.

DEFINITIONS Tissue paper

The term tissue paper refers to soft absorbent paper having a basis weight below 65 g/m² and typically between 10 and 50 g/m². Its density is typically below 0.60 g/cm³, preferably below 0.30 g/cm³ and more preferably between 0.08 and 0.20 g/cm³. The tissue paper may be creped or non-creped. The creping may take place in wet or dry condition. It may further be foreshortened by any other methods, such as so called rush transfer between wires.

The fibers contained in the tissue paper are mainly pulp fibers from chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermo mechanical pulp, chemo mechanical pulp and/or chemo thermo mechanical pulp (CTMP). The fibers may also be recycled fibers. The tissue paper may also contain other types of fibers enhancing e.g. strength, absorption or softness of the paper. These fibers may be made from regenerated cellulose or synthetic material such as polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides etc.

The tissue paper coming out from the tissue paper machine may comprise one or more layers. In the case of more than one layer this is accomplished either in a multi-layered headbox, by forming a new layer on top of an already formed layer or by couching together already formed layers. These layers can not or only with considerable difficulty be separated from each other and are joined mainly by hydrogen bonds. The different layers may be identical or may have different properties regarding for example fibre composition and chemical composition.

A paper comes out from the paper machine as a single-ply paper sheet, which later in the converting process can be combined with other plies by a lamination process, such as gluing and or embossing, to form a multi-ply material. The same applies to a nonwoven material. A single ply may comprise one, two or more layers, obtained by any of the methods mentioned above. Embossing of a paper will increase the thickness of the paper, so that its thickness as measured between the tips of the protruding embossings on opposite sides of the paper is larger than the thickness of the paper web as such.

The main use of tissue paper is as toilet and kitchen paper, paper towels, handkerchiefs, wiping material and the like.

Nonwoven

A nonwoven material is defined as a manufactured sheet, web or batt of directionally or randomly orientated fibres, bonded by friction and/or melt-bonding and/or cohesion and/or adhesion. The fibres may be of natural or man-made origin. They may be staple fibres or continuous filaments or be formed in situ. Examples of nonwoven materials are hydroentangled materials, spunbonded webs, meltblown webs, carded bonded webs, airlaid bonded webs, wetlaid webs, thermobonded webs, through-air-bonded webs etc. The nonwoven materials referred to in the present invention are intended for wiping purposes and have a basis weight between 10 and 100 g/m².

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will below be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG.1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispensing arrangement according to the invention in which the different components of the arrangement are separated from each other.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the support plate and outlet member in a separated position.

FIG. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the support plate and outlet member mounted to a shelf. FIG. 5 is an end view of the outlet member from the outlet side thereof. FIG. 6 is a section according to the line Vl-Vl in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a view of the outlet member as seen from the inlet side thereof. FIG. 8 is an end view of the support plate from the outlet side thereof. FIG. 9 is a section according to the line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dispensing arrangement mounted to a shelf in a cupboard.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a part of a dispensing arrangement comprising a support plate and an outlet member. FIG 12 is a perspective view of the dispensing arrangement of Fig. 11 mounted to a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1-10 show a first embodiment of a dispensing arrangement according for a roll 10 of web material 11 in the form of tissue paper or nonwoven material intended for wiping purposes. The roll 10 is shown in Fig. 1. The web material 11 is extracted from the centre of the roll through one end surface 10a, b of the roll and the roll is therefore referred to as a centre-fed roll contrary to a roll where the web material is unwound from the periphery of the roll. The roll has a longitudinal direction y, which is the feeding direction for the web material withdrawn from the roll, and a transverse direction, x. The dispensing arrangement comprises an elongated casing 12 of a cylindrical shape accommodating the roll, said casing having an end wall 13, 14 at each end and a dispenser opening 15 arranged in one end wall 13 of the dispenser. The dispenser opening is provided with tearing means 16 in the form of a toothed edge for tearing off the web material in desired lengths.

The web material generally has a basis weight between 10 and 100 g/m² and a thickness from 10 to 1000 μm. The tensile strength of the web material should preferably be below 800 N/m, more preferably below 600 N/m, so that it may easily be torn off against the tearing means. In the following the web material will be referred to as "paper". In some embodiments the web material may be perforated at intervals in order to facilitate cutting off, however in most cases when using a dispenser having tearing means as disclosed such perforation is redundant. The casing 12 shown in the drawings is of a kind disclosed in WO 2008/085090 and is a portable dispenser intended for multiple uses, allowing easy exchange of a paper roll. The casing is adapted to the size of the roll. The casing can be carried along and be used as a dispenser anywhere needed. At least a substantial part of the casing 12 is of a flexible moisture and tear resistant material adapted for multiple uses. Preferably the flexible material is a textile material, a plastic material or combinations thereof. Examples of moisture and tear resistant textile materials are different types of polyester materials. A backing or lining of for example plastic material or another textile material may further be provided. In order to provide an improved stability to the casing 12 a braid of a suitable material, for example plastic material, may be provided between the side walls and the respective end walls. The material in the tearing teeth 16 should be of a hard and durable material, such as metal or a suitable plastic material. Preferably the plastic material is tenacious enough to allow the tearing teeth to flex to a certain extent. Examples of suitable polymeric plastic materials are PE, PP and PA.

The casing 12 is further provided with a reclosable opening through which the roll of web material is inserted into the dispenser. The reclosable opening is provided with a zipper 17 or other mechanical closure means, such as hook and loops, Velcro® or the like. The closure means may also be of refastenable adhesive material. The reclosable opening preferably extends in a circumferential direction around at least 80% of the circumference of the dispenser so that the paper roll is easily inserted into the dispenser. The location of the reclosable opening is preferably at a distance of no more than 5 cm from an end wall 14 thereof, preferably from the end wall 14 having the dispenser opening 15 therein.

The dispenser casing 12 further has a carrying handle 18 attached thereto, so that the casing may be easily carried along to places where the paper is needed. The carrying handle 18 allows the dispenser to be carried in one hand and the paper may be pulled out and cut off against the tearing teeth 16 with the opposite hand.

The dispenser opening 15 has an elongated shape and a length, L1 , in longitudinal direction and a width, W1 , in transverse direction. It has a pair of opposed side edges, wherein one side edge is provided with said tearing means 16 and the opposite side edge is smooth and free from tearing means. The dispenser opening 15 including the tearing teeth 16 lies in the same plane as the substantially plane end wall 13, which means that the tips of the tearing teeth are directed towards the centre of the dispenser opening. This implies that the end wall 13 having the dispenser opening therein will be substantially plane and may therefore easily be put on a plane surface.

The width, W1 , of the dispenser opening 15 is measured from the tip of the tearing teeth 16 to the opposed smooth side edge. In case the width of the dispenser opening varies along the length of the dispenser opening, the width, W1 , as referred to herein, is the width at the broadest portion of the dispenser opening.

The length, L1 , of the dispenser opening 17 is in one embodiment between 40 and 90% of the roll diameter. For a roll having a diameter of 12 cm this means that the length, L1 , of the dispenser opening 17 should be between 4.8 and 10.8 cm. Preferably the length, L1 , of the dispenser opening 17 is between 50 and 80% of the roll diameter.

Since the paper comes out from a centre-fed roll in the form of a twisted strip which has a thickness of a plurality of plies of paper the width, W1 , of the dispenser opening should be at least 10 times the thickness of the paper web, and at least 5 mm. Preferably the width, W1, is at least 15 times the thickness of the web material, and at least 8 mm and more preferably at least 10 mm. According to one embodiment the width, W1 , is not more than 40 mm, preferably not more than 30 mm. The thickness of the web material is measured according to the European standard EN-ISO 12625-3:2005.

The dispenser opening may of course have another shape than the elongated shape shown in the drawings. Thus it may have a circular shape with an equal length, L1 , and width W1. It may further have tearing teeth 16 around part of the circumference and a smooth edge around the rest of the circumference of the opening or alternatively have tearing means all around the circumference of the opening. However in the case of inwardly directed tearing means it is preferred that at least a part of the circumference of the dispenser opening 15 is smooth and free from tearing means 16 in order to avoid unintentional breaking of the paper during withdrawal. For a circular dispenser opening having a diameter with equal length, L1 , and width, W1 , the diameter should be of the same dimension as the width, W1 , discussed above for the elongated dispenser opening.

The dispensing arrangement according to Fig. 1-12 further comprises a support plate 18 for supporting the casing 12 in an upright position resting on the end wall 14 having the dispenser opening 15 therein. The support plate 18 has a substantially plane bottom 19 with an opening 20 therein and a rim 21. The dimension of the support plate is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of the casing 12, to allow the casing to be easily put into and removed from the support plate. Guiding means, for example in the form of lips 22, may be provided on the inside of the rim 21 and are intended to guide the casing into a correct position in the support plate 18.

When the casing 12 is put into the support plate 18 it forms a part of a stationary dispensing arrangement.

The opening 20 in the support plate shown in the drawings is circular and has a tapering shape, so that the diameter W2 of the opening is smaller at the outlet end 20b of the opening than at the inlet end 20a as seen in the feeding direction of the web material. The tapering shape of the opening 20 provides an improved guidance for the paper web through the dispensing arrangement. The diameter W2 of the opening at the outlet end 20b should be equal to or smaller than the width W1 of the dispenser opening 15 of the casing 12. In one embodiment the diameter W2 at the outlet end 20b is between 5 and 40 mm, preferably between 10 and 30 mm and is equal to ore preferably at least 1 mm smaller than the width W1 of the dispenser opening 15 of the casing 12.

The equal or smaller dimension of the opening 20 as compared to the dispenser opening

15 of the casing ensures that the paper web is kept out of contact with the tearing means

16 of the dispenser opening 15 when withdrawn through the dispensing arrangement.

The opening 20 can have other optional shape than circular, for example elongated, and thus have a different length L2 and width W2. The dimensions discussed above with respect to the diameter are applicable to the width W2. In case the width of the dispenser opening varies along the length of the dispenser opening, the width, W2, as referred to herein, is the width at the broadest portion of the dispenser opening. In the case of an opening 20 with different length L2 and width W2 and a dispenser opening 15 with different length L1 and width W1 , the relative orientations of the two openings 15 and 20 are important, so that the two openings are oriented substantially in the same direction, which can be assured by the guiding means 22 in the support plate and corresponding guiding means in the casing respectively. One advantage with a circular opening 20 in the support plate 18 is that the rotational orientation of the casing 12 in the support plate 18 is optional, which facilitates the placement of the casing in the support plate. The support plate 18 shown in the drawings is also provided with a second rim 23 on the opposite side of the bottom 19 as the first rim 20. The second rim 23 has a smaller diameter than the first rim 20 and is adapted as a guide and reinforcement when mounting the support plate to a hole in a shelf 29, as shown in Fig. 3, 4 and 10.

The dispensing arrangement further comprises an outlet member 24 having a dispensing opening 25 provided with tearing means 26. The dispensing opening is arranged in a substantially plane bottom plate 27 of the outlet member, which further comprises a rim 28 having a smaller diameter than the bottom plate 27 and which is adapted to act as a guide and reinforcement when mounting the support plate to a hole in a shelf 29. The second rim 23 of the support plate 19 and the rim 28 of the outlet member 24 are in one embodiment adapted to fit telescopically into each other so that the distance between the plane bottom 19 of the support plate 18 and the bottom plate 27 of the outlet member 24 can be varied to fit shelves of different thicknesses.

The tearing means 26 of the outlet member 24 can be of optional shape. It is however preferred that the tear edges of the tearing means 26 are located on the inner side of the bottom plate 27 facing the support plate 18. This will facilitate tearing off the paper, since the paper will easier slide over and tear off against tear edges that are located on the inner side than on the outer side of a plane surface.

The dispensing opening 25 of the outlet member 24 has a length L3 and a width W3 wherein the width W3 of the dispensing opening is larger than the width/diameter W2 of the opening 20 in the support plate 18, at the outlet end 20b thereof. It is preferred that the width W3 of the dispensing opening is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, larger than the width W2 of the outlet end 20b of the opening 20 in the support plate 18. The dispensing opening 25 in the outlet member 24 preferably has a diameter/width W3 of between 30 and 100 mm, preferably between 40 and 80 mm. The length L3 and width W3 of the dispenser opening are herewith measured from the innermost tips of the tearing edges to an opposed edge of the dispenser opening, and wherein both opposed sides of the dispensing opening 25 are provided with tearing edges the distance is measured between the tips of the tearing edges at the opposite sides of the dispenser opening. The length L3 and the width W3 may be the same. The width W3 is always measured at a location where tear edges are present at least at one side of the dispenser opening. Thus in the case of a dispenser opening having one or more narrow slots without tearing means, the width of these slots is not taken into account when measuring the width W3.

The paper web 11 withdrawn through the opening 20 in the support plate 18 will because of the larger width W3 of the dispensing opening 25 be redirected to so that when the paper web slides over the tearing means 26 it will make an angle with the original feeding direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis, y, of the paper roll of between 30 and 60^°. This will ensure that the paper web is torn off easily. This angle is besides the difference in width between the openings 20 and 25 also determined by the distance between the support plate 18 and the outlet member 24 in their mounted position.

A plane bottom plate 27 may be preferred when mounting the dispensing arrangement to a shelf 29 as illustrated in Fig, 3, 4 and 10 in order to minimize portions that are projecting below the shelf. However the bottom part of the outlet member 24, in which the dispensing opening 25, is arranged may of course have another optional shape, for example a domed shape, if desired.

Fig. 3, 4 and 10 illustrate the dispensing arrangement mounted to a shelf, for example in a kitchen cupboard. In Fig. 3 and 4 the front part of the shelf is cut away in order to be able to better see the support plate 18 and outlet member 24. A hole is made in the shelf to allow the rims 23 and 28 to be inserted into the hole in a telescopic manner adapted to the thickness of the shelf. The support plate 28 and the outlet member 24 are fastened together by means of screws 30 or the like.

In an alternative embodiment the rimes 23 and 28 are not telescopic but have substantially the same diameter and are adapted to be spaced apart or abutting against each other when mounted in a hole of a shelf 29.

In the mounted position of the dispensing arrangement the support plate 18 and the outlet member 24 may be spaced apart in the feeding direction of the paper web so that the distance between the outlet 20b of the opening 20 in the support plate 18 and the tear edges of the tearing means 26 of the outlet member is at least 10 mm. Preferably this distance is between 10 mm and 60 mm. The location of the tear edges for measuring said distance is the part of the tear edges that comes in contact with the paper web withdrawn through the outlet member first and over which tearing of the paper occurs. The embodiment shown in Fig. 1-10 is especially adapted to be mounted to a shelf, for example in a kitchen cupboard. The casing 12 may easily be removed from the support plate 18 and carried along and used as a portable dispenser.

Fig. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of the dispensing arrangement according to the invention. The arrangement comprises the same kind of casing 12 holding the paper roll as described above. The casing is placed in an integrated unit 31 intended to be mounted to a wall. Said unit comprises a support plate 32 for supporting the casing 12 in the corresponding way as the support plate 18 in Fig. 1-10. The support plate 32 has a rim 33 and an opening 34 with an inlet end 34a and an outlet end 34b. The unit 31 further comprises an outlet member 35 with a dispensing opening 36 having tearing means 37. The integrated unit further comprises a mounting plate 38 for mounting the unit 31 to a wall.

The dimensions of the opening 34 and the dispensing opening 36 as well as the distance between the outlet end 34b of the opening 34 in the support plate 32 and the tear edges of the tearing means 37 of the outlet member 35 are the same as described above with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 1-10.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings but it is understood that several modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. As an example the casing 12 may have different configurations. According to one alternative embodiment the casing is for example of a plastic film, enclosing the roll and provided with a dispenser opening in one end wall. The dispenser opening comprises tearing means. In a further embodiment the casing comprises a cardboard sleeve surrounded by a plastic film cover provided with a dispenser opening at one end wall.

Claims

1. A dispensing arrangement for a roll (10) of web material (11) in the form of tissue paper or nonwoven material intended for wiping purposes, said roll having a roll diameter and a length and having an end surface (11a, b) at each end, said web material being adapted to be unwound from the centre of the roll through one end surface thereof, the roll being accommodated in an elongated casing (12), said casing having an end wall (13, 14) at each end covering the respective end surface (11a, b) of the roll, wherein a dispensing opening (15) is arranged in at least one end wall of the casing, said dispensing opening having a length (L1) and a width

(W1) or alternatively having a diameter (W1), characterized in that said dispensing arrangement comprises a support plate (18; 31) for supporting said elongated casing (12) in an upright position with the dispensing opening facing the support plate, said support plate having an opening (20; 34) there through, said opening having an inlet end (20a; 34a) and an outlet end (20b; 34b) and a length

(L2) and a width (W2) or alternatively a diameter (W2) wherein the width or diameter (W2) of the opening (20; 34) in the support plate (18; 31) is equal to or smaller than the width or diameter (W1) of the dispensing opening (15) of the casing (12), and that the dispensing arrangement further comprises an outlet member (24; 35) having a dispensing opening (25; 36) provided with tearing means

(26; 37), said dispensing opening of the outlet member (24; 35) being aligned with the opening of the support plate (18: 31), so as to allow the web material to be withdrawn through the dispensing opening (15) of the casing (12), through the opening (20; 34) in the support plate (18; 32) and further through the dispensing opening (25; 36) in the outlet member (24; 35) in a feeding direction (y) of the web material.

2. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the tearing means (26; 37) of the dispensing opening (25; 36) of the outlet member (24; 35) is provided with tear edges on the inner side of the outlet member facing the support plate (18; 32).

3. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dispensing opening (25; 36) of the outlet member (24; 35) has a length (L3) and a width (W3) or alternatively having a diameter (W3) wherein the width or diameter (W3) of the dispensing opening is larger than the width or diameter (W2) of the opening (20; 34) of the support plate (18; 32).

4. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the opening (20; 34) of the support plate (18; 32) tapers towards to outlet end (20b;

34b) of the opening, wherein the width or diameter (W2) of the opening is measured at the narrowest part thereof.

5. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (20; 34) in the support plate (18; 32) is circular.

6. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate and the outlet member are spaced apart in said feeding direction so that the distance between the outlet end (20b; 34b) of the opening ( 20; 34) in the support plate (18; 31) and the tearing means (26; 37) of the outlet member (24; 35) is between 10 and 60 mm.

7. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (18) and the outlet member (24) are separate parts that are connectible to each other at a variable spaced apart distance.

8. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the support plate (18) and the outlet member (24) are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of a shelf (29) having an opening there through aligned with the openings

(20; 25) in the support plate (18) and the outlet member (24).

9. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the support plate (32) and the outlet member (35) are part of an integrated unit (31) further comprising a mounting plate (38) for mounting the dispensing arrangement to a wall.

10. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing (12) is portable and removable as a separate unit from the support plate (18; 32).

11. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the dispensing opening (15) in the at least one end wall of the casing (12) is provided with tearing means (16) located in the same plane as the respective end wall (13), with the tips of the tearing means being directed towards the centre of the dispenser opening (15).

12. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the dispensing opening (15) of the casing has an elongated shape with a length (L1) between 40 and 90%, preferably between 50 and 80% of the roll diameter and a width (W1) between 8 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 10 and 30 mm.

13. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (20; 34) in the support plate (18; 32) has a diameter or width (W2) of between 5 and 40 mm, preferably between 10 and

30mm.

14. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter or width (W2) of the opening (20; 34) is at least 1 mm smaller than the width or the diameter (W1) of the dispensing opening (15) of the casing (12).

15. A dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing opening (25; 36) in the outlet member (24; 35) has a diameter or width (W3) of between 30 and 100 mm, preferably between

40 and 80 mm, wherein said diameter or width (W3) is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 20 mm larger than the width or diameter (W2) of the opening (20; 34) in the support plate (18; 32).